American Shoreline Podcast | Opening Thoughts on Hurricanes

An episode of American Shoreline Podcast Network

ASPN, a service of Coastal News Today, is the platform for top minds in coastal business, policy, science, and advocacy. With ASPN, you'll be better prepared, better informed, and better equipped for your job, no matter what you do on the coast. See the complete coastal landscape with ASPN and CNT and gain insight into the critical issues affecting the American shoreline.

No other platform brings together so many cross-sectional coastal experts. We believe understanding the spectrum of coastal issues and interests is the key to truly thriving on the American shoreline.

Peter and Tyler sit down with Crystal Sanders, Fisheries Scientist and Founder of Fish Revolution. Crystal is a marine scientist dedicated to sustainable fisheries. She works directly with the commercial fishing community, the distributors, wholesalers, businesses, and chefs to incorporate sustainable seafood practices into the economy. She has helped shift buyers and consumers away from harmful fishing and farming methods to more sustainable options. It's complex and hard work but makes a real difference in fishery health. Meet Crystal and find out how it's done.

Welcome to Delta Dispatches with hosts, Jacques Hebert and Simone Maloz. On today’s episode, Dr. Kristine Strickland, Chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College joins the show today to talk about workforce development, coastal literacy, and much more! Dr. Strickland was awarded Educator of the Year by Lafourche Chamber of Commerce at its 2017 Annual Awards Banquet. She’s followed by Martin Mantz, Coastal Restoration Program Manager at Nunez Community College who discusses ongoing and upcoming coastal restoration projects.

On this episode, we return to Fort Mason in San Francisco for a fascinating discussion with David McGuire of Shark Stewards and Maria Brown, Superintendent of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
A marine biologist and shark advocate, David McGuire is the founder of the Ocean Health and Shark Conservation non profit Shark Stewards. As a sailing captain, dive master and filmmaker, David has explored the world ocean on numerous sailing voyages producing media with an emphasis on sharks and ocean awareness.
Maria Brown has been the Superintendent of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary since 2002. She is a life long lover of wildlife and the outdoors. She received her B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and her M.A. in Urban and Environmental Studies from Tufts University.

Gabby Goss and Kaden Anderson are both Bay Area high school students and filmmakers. Peter and Tyler sat down with Gabby and Kaden to discuss their films and how they decided to dedicate themselves to making films about the ocean. Kaden's film is Why Seagoers Hate the Color Purple - 1st Place High School. Gabby's film is Plastic Sea, 2nd Place High School.

One of the highlights of the festival was getting the opportunity to meet and speak with student filmmakers. Arjun and Abi Subramanian made the film The Ennore of Today, a rich film about their grandmother's coastal hometown of Ennore, India, which has undergone a tremendous transformation as three coal-fired power plants have been built along the shore.
These two young filmmakers (ages 15 and 12) are remarkable and offer a thoughtful and nuanced perspective about the changes impacting coastal communities in India and around the world. Seriously, a stunning and surprising conversation with the next generation. They sat down with Peter and Tyler at the Ft. Mason Firehouse during the International Ocean Film Festival in San Francisco.
Learn more about Ennore here.

While at IOFF, Peter and Tyler sat down with Hendrik and Claudia Schmitt of The Jetlagged. These adventurers/underwater photographers/filmmakers from Germany have attended the the past four festivals. This year, the festival screened Fragile - Why Turtle Hatchlings Need The Sea. Here is our (quiet) conversation at the Firehouse.

Gaelin Rosenwaks is a marine scientist, explorer, photographer, and filmmaker. Always fascinated by the marine world, Gaelin began diving at 14 and has since continued exploring ocean ecosystems. She began her career at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution where she researched over-wintering patterns of Southern Ocean zooplankton. Gaelin earned her Master’s Degree in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University working with the Tag-A-Giant program and conducting research on the migratory movements of Giant Bluefin Tunas. She has conducted fieldwork throughout the world from the Antarctic to the Arctic on icebreakers to both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans on fishing vessels. To Gaelin, there is nothing better than being in the open ocean surrounded by endless blue water and passing wildlife. Alarmed by the changes happening in the oceans, Gaelin founded Global Ocean Exploration (GOE) to share her passion for ocean exploration, marine conservation and photography. GOE is a company devoted to bringing cutting-edge expedition science to the public through photography, writing, and film. She now participates and conducts expeditions in every ocean to alert the public not only to the challenges facing the oceans, but also to what science is doing to understand these changes.
Gaelin is a US Coast Guard Licensed Captain, and a Fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club where she served as Secretary of the Board of Directors. She also serves on the Conservation Committee of the Explorers Club and has been honored to carry the Explorers Club Flag on two of her expeditions to the Arctic. Gaelin has published articles and photographs in scientific journals, newspapers and magazines. She has also appeared as a scientific consultant, angler and on-camera presenter on the National Geographic Channel Series, Fish Warrior. Gaelin is an accomplished public speaker having delivered lectures at various institutions including the Explorers Club and Patagonia, Inc. Her fine art photography has shown in galleries along the East Coast and can be found in many prestigious collections. Gaelin's passion for the ocean and conservation is infectious and she hopes to inspire others to care about our planet through her work.

Gerry Cushman (F/V Bug Catcha) is a lifelong resident of Port Clyde, Maine and remains a tireless advocate for keeping community-based fishermen on the water with viable fishing businesses. His father was a groundfish fisherman, and Gerry is committed to having a healthy Gulf of Maine ecosystem and a healthy fishing fleet in the future. You can find Gerry fishing for lobster most days of the year.

On this episode of Local Control, Peter Ravella speaks with Robert Young, the Director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, a joint Duke University/Western Carolina University venture. He is also a Professor of Geology at Western Carolina University and a licensed professional geologist in three states (FL, NC, SC). The Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines (PSDS) is a research and policy outreach center serving the global coastal community. The primary mission of PSDS is to conduct scientific research into coastal processes and to translate that science into management and policy recommendations through a variety of professional and public outreach mechanisms. The Program specializes in evaluating the design and implementation of coastal engineering projects. Dr. Young received a BS degree in Geology (Phi Beta Kappa) from the College of William & Mary, and MS degree in Quaternary Studies from the University of Maine, and a PhD in Geology from Duke University where he was a James B. Duke Distinguished Doctoral Fellow.

Welcome to Delta Dispatches with hosts, Jacques Hebert and Simone Maloz. On today’s show, Kristi Trail of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation talks to Jacques and Simone about the unprecedented opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway for the third time in four years. Chip Kline, chairman of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) also stops by to talk about the Bonnet Carré opening is an opportunity for people to pay attention to what we’re trying to do in the Master Plan. Finally, Alisha Renfro, National Wildlife Federation, closes the show with a bigger picture conversation about the high water event in the Mississippi River and what to expect next.

Peter, Lesley, and Tyler sit down with Elaine Forbes, Executive Director, Port of San Francisco. Elaine leads the Port to responsibly manage the waterfront as the gateway to a world-class city and advances environmentally and financially sustainable maritime, recreational, and economic opportunities to serve the City, Bay Area region, and California.
At the recommendation of the Port Commission, Mayor Edwin Lee appointed Elaine Forbes Executive Director of the Port on October 12, 2016. Forbes is one of eight women Port Directors in the United States. Before her appointment as Executive Director, she served as Deputy Director for Finance and Administration for the Port for six years.
Prior to joining the Port, Mrs. Forbes held executive management and leadership positions at both the San Francisco Planning Department and the San Francisco International Airport. She also worked for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget Analyst’s Office providing fiscal and policy analysis and evaluating and reporting on complex municipal issues.
Before beginning her tenure with the City and County of San Francisco in 2000, she worked as a redevelopment agency planner for the City of Oakland. She also has worked for several non-profit land use policy and economic development organizations including the Urban Strategies Council and the California Budget Project.
Mrs. Forbes holds a Master’s degree with honors from the University of California, Los Angeles in Community and Economic Development, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Mills College in Oakland. Mrs. Forbes is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She was born in San Francisco and resides in the Castro neighborhood with her partner.

It's the final day of the International Ocean Film Festival. Peter and Tyler break down some of the memorable moments from the past 24 hours and then are joined by Ana Blanco, the Executive Director of the fest to look ahead to the final night.

On this special episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter Ravella, Lesley Ewing, and Tyler Buckingham sit down and discuss the goings on at the International Ocean Film Festival, some of our favorite films so far, and who we look forward to speaking with on the podcast network over the next day of the fest.

Peter and Tyler are tucked away behind the Cowell Theater for a quick edition of the Friday Happy Hour. Topics of discussion include our first impressions of the film fest so far and a look ahead to the coverage we have in store for the rest of the festival! Cheers, everyone!

Lesley Ewing kicks off the Shorewords! podcast with Dr. Gary B. Griggs, longtime Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz and author of a dozen books, over 100 articles, and several scientific reports. Join us as Gary talks about how books changed his life, the coastal topics that have dominated his writing, his approach to writer’s block, and his favorite types of sand and beaches. A great debut episode. Welcome to ASPN, Lesley!

On this episode of the Capitol Beach, Derek Brockbank welcomes Bradley Watson, Executive Director of Coastal States Organization (CSO) to the show. ASBPA and CSO are close allies and frequently partner on policy issues. The conversation includes discussion about ASBPA and CSO's joint policy position, the history of the Coastal States Organization including how the Coastal Zone Management Act helped launch the organization.
We also share where you can get 25 cent martinis in New Orleans.

On this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham welcome Dr. Joseph G. Kunkel to the show. Joe, as he prefers to be called, is the professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Research Professor University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. As part of our ongoing coverage of the American Shoreline's fisheries, we have been following the "mass migrations" of sea life seeking preferred water temperatures. Lobsters are no exception, and scientists, like Joe, are trying to understand how climate changes are impacting the fishery and if policy changes might be able to preserve the fishery for future generations. One primary concern is Lobster Shell Disease. On this show Dr. Kunkel deep dives on the issues facing the American Lobster, a multi-billion dollar industry facing an uncertain future.

Welcome to happy hour. On this Millennial Edition of the show, Tyler Buckingham and Jenna Valente grab drinks and chat about what's on their Millennial minds. Jenna gets the first round, and tells us about a cool birthday party she went to recently in Boston. The party was unique in that all the attendees were required to deliver a presentation on a subject of their own choosing. Of course, Jenna presented on three interesting ocean creatures and shares some fun facts on the pod. Tyler gets the second round, and, feeling a bit tipsy, talks about the Green New Deal and how Millennials like AOC are putting their fingerprints on the new congress.

Howard Marlow and Dan Ginolfi sit down for their monthly federal update on ASPN. On this episode, Howard and Dan discuss whats going on with the boarder wall and the USACE, and how the ripples created by the President's decision to direct money towards the wall have spread as throughout the Defense Department. They then how discuss how public private partnerships and other "alternative" financing tools will play important roles as the climate changes and seas rise. They conclude with a brisk discussion about the positions of the Congress and the President on the issue of climate change. It's a great episode!

On today’s show Kara Lankford, Director of Gulf Coast Restoration at National Audubon Society, stops by to about Audubon's latest Comprehensive Gulf Restoration Plan. The report highlights projects and programs critical to helping the region. Later on the show, Erik Johnson, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon, Louisiana, joins the show to talk about the elusive Black Rail and why coastal restoration is so important for shorebirds.

On this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham sit down with Dr. Susan Hovorka, Senior Research Scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, at The University of Texas at Austin. She has worked on diverse topics related to water quality protection, waste storage in bedded salt, and reservoir characterization. Her current research focuses on assessment of effectiveness of subsurface geologic sequestration of CO2 as a mechanism for reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. Hovorka is the principle investigator of the Gulf Coast Carbon Center (www.gulfcoastcarbon.org) an industry/academic partnership working on economically viable approaches to geologic sequestration of CO2.

On this episode of Sea Change, Jenna Valente catches up with her longtime friend Erika Zambello, Communications and Marketing Coordinator for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance is a non-profit organization responsible for sustaining healthy local waterways through monitoring, education, restoration, and research. We learn about the Choctawhatchee Basin and broader region of Florida that depends on it.

Welcome to the Changing Waters podcast, a new show on ASPN about the ocean, the people who depend on it, and the people who are working to keep it healthy. On this special inaugural episode we are treated to a conversation with the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, a self-proclaimed climate justice activist. The interview is conducted by Camorah King, a graduate student at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies

On today’s show, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham stop by to tell listeners about Coastal News Today and the American Shoreline Podcast Network, which will now be featuring the Delta Dispatches podcast. Listen in to hear all about the work Tyler and Peter are doing for the coast and what’s coming up in Delta Dispatches.

On this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham speak with Ana Blanco ahead of the 16th Annual International Ocean Film Festival. Ana, the Festival's Executive Director, explains how the festival was started and how its evolved over the years. Then she give us a sneak peak into this year's festival, March 7-10 in San Francisco. Since its launch in 2004, IOFF has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, water sports fans, educators, and environmental supporters.

On this episode of the Catch Curve, Robert Jones is joined by Emily Muehlstein, Public Information Officer for the Gulf Fisheries Management Council, and Patrick Banks, the Assistant Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, for an introductory discussion into the world of fisheries management. Unlike the management of terrestrial resources which can be more easily observed, regulating fisheries requires users to put their faith in scientifically based rules. Emily, Patrick, and Robert discuss how the sausage is made, covering everything from the goals and objectives of effective fisheries management to enforcement and compliance.

On this episode, Dan Martin is joined by Greg Weykamp of Edgewater Resources. Greg Weykamp has more than 24 years of experience in the planning and design of the public realm, with an emphasis on implementation of sustainable built landscapes and urban waterfront environments. His project experience spans waterfront parks, marinas, master planned communities, urban revitalization, streetscapes, parks and recreation facilities, medical and university campuses, and military installations.

On this special episode, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham welcome Jacques Hebert and Simone Maloz to the show to introduce themselves and their show, Delta Dispatches, to the ASPN audience. Delta Dispatches has been telling the story of the Louisiana coast over a year, discussing its shoreline, its people, wildlife and jobs, and why restoring it matters.
Jacques P. Hebert works as the National Audubon Society’s communications director for the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition. In that capacity, Jacques helps raise awareness to Louisiana’s ongoing environmental land loss crisis, its implications on people, wildlife and the economy, and the restoration solutions available to address it. In the wake of the BP oil spill settlement, Jacques leverages public communications and outreach to build support for large-scale restoration efforts in Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast. Prior to joining Audubon, Jacques worked as the Public Affairs Manager at Mother Jones in San Francisco, where he raised awareness to the news organization's reporting and helped elevate its profile. Previously, he worked for five years at Google initially in its advertising department and then on the company's corporate communications team focusing on YouTube. Jacques graduated from Dartmouth College with a dual major in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Jacques is a native son of Louisiana, having grown up in the town of Braithwaite in Plaquemines Parish, where his family had lived for generations and which has also been ground zero for coastal land loss, hurricanes, and the BP oil spill. In 2015, he was selected for and completed Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Emerging Leaders program along with other area nonprofit leaders. In 2016, Jacques participated in the Institute for Environmental Communication at Loyola University New Orleans.
Simone Maloz is the Executive Director of Restore or Retreat, a non-profit coastal advocacy group working to identify and expedite the implementation of aggressive, large-scale restoration projects, Terrebonne Parish native Simone works with Restore the Mississippi River Delta on the local, state and federal levels to advocate for the needs of the disappearing Louisiana coast, specifically the Barataria and Terrebonne Basins. Since the devastating hurricanes of 2005 and the 2010 oil spill, she has also been tracking the process of the different planning efforts underway, including the Natural Resources Damage Assessment Act (NRDA), Clean Water Act Penalties, the 2012 and 2017 State Master Plan Update and the Louisiana Coastal Area Study projects, all to ensure the needs of the Barataria and Terrebonne Basins are being adequately met with the necessary sense of urgency in the face of what is at stake. She was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation in the summer of 2014, and is a member and co-chair of the Commission’s Diversion Subcommittee.

On this episode of Ship to Shore, Robert Frump welcomes Michael Carr to the show to discuss his lifelong career of service in the Coast Guard and Army. Michael was an Operations Officer and Diving Officer with the U.S. Coast Guard National Strike Force Dive Team, faculty at Maine Maritime Academy, faculty at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, faculty at Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies, a U.S. Army Marine Warrant Officer, a U.S. Army Electronic Warfare Officer, a Master for Crowley Maritime's Alaska and Gulf of Mexico Operations, and he is the author of Weather Predicting Simplified: How to Read Weather Charts and Satellite Images, McGraw Hill International.

On this episode of the Capitol Beach, Derek Brockbank welcomes Brian Caufield to the show to talk about the upcoming ASBPA Coastal Summit, which Brian is co-chairing this year. The 2019 Coastal Summit will be held in Washington D.C. March 12-14 and will feature a packed program complete with break-away groups with Federal agency leaders, lobbying time, and the “Coastal Celebration on Capitol Hill” gathering in the Hart Senate Office Building. Go to ASBPA.org for more information and to register.

On this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham meet up with Ellis Pickett, the Founding Chairman of the Surfrider Foundation in Texas and current Chairman of the Texas Upper Coast Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Catching him between meetings at the Statehouse - Texas is in the midst of its 86th Legislative Session - Ellis joins for a great conversation about the unusually progressive public beach laws in Texas and how the future of the Texas coast is shaping up in the face of climate change, the Coastal Spine project, and more.
Ellis's involvement in beach advocacy was ignited by a set of projects proposed in response to erosion caused by Tropical Storm Francis: an 18-mile breakwater off Galveston and a one-mile breakwater off Surfside Beach. With no experience as an activist or lobbyist, his interest in stewardship and conservation led him to organize and advocate protecting what he loved. Ellis’s work has evolved and resulted in some of the most important legislative actions protecting beach access and shorelines in Texas.

Welcome to Ship to Shore, ASPN's ports, shipping, and maritime podcast. On this, the maiden voyage of the show, host Robert Frump welcomes his friend and former colleague Andrew Maykuth to the show to discuss a wide-range of topics including the dredging of the Delaware River, operations at the Port of Philadelphia, and their shared experience covering the maritime world.
Andrew Maykuth is the Philadelphia Inquirer's correspondent at large. He was raised in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He worked for a couple of years at the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune before he went to Philadelphia in 1982. He was covering local news when The Inquirer sent him on his first international assignment to Nicaragua in 1985. Since then, he has traveled to 49 countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and south Asia on Inquirer assignments. He also spent four years as the Inquirer's New York correspondent. His work has been recognized by The Overseas Press Club, the Population Institute’s Global Media Awards, Lincoln University’s Unity Awards, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association and The National Association of Black Journalists. He was a John S. Knight journalism fellow at Stanford University in 2002.

On this episode of NextGen Waterfronts, Dan Martin is joined by Michael Mercadante and Tevere MacFadyen of Main Street Design to discuss the tricks of the trade when it comes to creating interpretive attractions on the American Shoreline. Main Street Design was founded in 1991. Main Street’s two principals, Michael and Tevere, have some 60 years combined experience directing and coordinating all aspects of interpretive planning, design, production, fabrication and installation. Michael and Tevere have a hands-on relationship with the firm’s projects. Tevere directs and supervises the programmatic aspects their work, including interpretive planning and concept development, content research and development, image and artifact selection, and graphic design. Michael assumes primary responsibility for dimensional design, including exhibit and project-related architectural design, and he also monitors project budgets and schedules to ensure compliance with established guidelines.

On this episode of Sea Change, Jenna Valente welcomes Melissa Keyser to the show to discuss her work managing the Haystack Rock Awareness Program in Cannon Beach, Oregon. A popular tourist destination, the monolithic rock is adjacent to the beach and accessible by foot at low tide. The Haystack Rock tide pools are home to a wide variety intertidal animals, and is a nesting site for many sea birds, including terns and puffins. In addition to her work with Haystack Rock, Melissa was recently appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to serve on the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council.

On this episode, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham introduce the audience to Lesley Ewing, host of ASPN's newest podcast, Shorewords!, a coastal literature show. Lesley is a coastal engineer and swimmer. She has published numerous papers on coastal issues relevant to California, where she lives, and beyond, covering subjects such as tides, sea level rise, El Niños, coastal hazards, tsunamis, and methods to enhance and restore beaches. She worked on the monitoring efforts for the El Segundo Groin project and the surfing reef that was undertaken as mitigation for long-term impacts to surfing.
She is a director and past president of the California Shore and Beach Preservation Association, a director and treasurer of the Association of Coastal Engineers, and director of American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. She co-chairs the Coastal Zone Management Committee for the American Society of Civil Engineers/Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute, and is on the Board of Directors for the Coastal Zone Foundation.

On the inaugural episode of the Catch Curve, host Robert Jones sits down with legendary outdoor writer Shannon Tompkins to discuss the environmental, political, and policy changes he has observed over his 40-year career with the Houston Chronicle. Tompkins is a past president of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association and his reporting has won national and state awards to include the Sierra Club’s Lone Star Environmental Reporting Award, multiple Excellence in Craft awards from the Texas Outdoor Writers Association and the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and an award from the Texas bureau of The Associated Press.

On this inaugural episode of the WaterLog Podcast, D.C. insiders Howard Marlowe and Dan Ginolfi dive into the government shutdown and discuss its immediate impacts, future consequences, and the origins of the budget impasse. Then, Howard and Dan look ahead to the 116 Congress and highlight possible actions that will impact coastal funding and policy.

On this special MLK Day episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham take a moment to discuss the sandy side of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Civil Rights Movement was active on the beach, fighting for the integration of segregated shorelines across the country. Peter and Tyler discuss the lasting legacy of the Movement and the on-going work to ensure that our beaches and shores are welcoming of all people. Peter and Tyler also discuss the exciting slate of new shows and content coming to ASPN and dive into a smattering of news stories on CNT.

On this episode of the Sea Change podcast, Jenna Valente is joined by Danni Washington, the co-founder of Big Blue and You, Co-creator of Sea Youth Rise Up, a science communicator, an ocean advocate, and a television personality. A Miami native with Jamaican roots, Danni Washington is deeply passionate about oceans and science communications. She dreamed of studying the oceans since she was six years old. In 2008, Danni graduated from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science with a B.S. in Marine Science/Biology.

On this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham introduce Robert Frump and his new show Ship to Shore, ASPN's newest show covering the fascinating world of shipping, ports, and waterways. Robert is a nationally recognized journalist who won several major awards while a journalist and investigative reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer. He grew up in the small farm town of Paxton, Ill, graduated from the University of Illinois and received a master's degree from Northwestern University in Journalism. He received, with Tim Dwyer, the George Polk Award, for his reporting on unsafe U.S. ships, and the Gerald Loeb Award for National Business Reporting. He was also a member of an Inquirer task force that won the Pulitzer Prize. He is the former managing editor of The Journal of Commerce.

Welcome to the Friday Happy Hour, a periodic commentary micopod from the hosts of ASPN. On this special Gov't ****down episode, Jenna Valente, the host of the Sea Change Podcast and full-time ocean policy advocate, sits down during this short, 101-style explainer to share how we got here, thoughts on the budget, and insights from federal employees about how this shutdown is impacting their lives.

On this episode of the Sea Change podcast, Jenna Valente speaks with Lindsay Hirt about her work in environmental education. As a marine biologist and 8th grade science teacher, Lindsay spends one half of her time in a classroom and the other half on the water, working with whale watch companies, conservation organizations, and other ocean-minded folks. She monitors whales, seals, birds, and an assortment of other salty sea life. Her mission is to offer an unforgettable experience with nature while inspiring young people to realize their importance in environmental stewardship.

Before Rob Nixon started the Next Swell podcast, he read and fell in love with The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea. On this episode, Rob Nixon speaks with the man who wrote it, Jack E. Davis, the author of the award-winning An Everglades Providence: Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the American Environmental Century. A professor of environmental history at the University of Florida, he grew up on the Gulf coast, and now lives in Florida and New Hampshire. Hailed as a "nonfiction epic . . . in the tradition of Jared Diamond’s best-seller 'Collapse,' and Simon Winchester’s 'Atlantic'" (Dallas Morning News), The Gulf is "by turns informative, lyrical, inspiring and chilling for anyone who cares about the future of 'America’s Sea'" (Wall Street Journal). Illuminating America’s political and economic relationship with the environment from the age of the conquistadors to the present, Davis demonstrates how the Gulf’s fruitful ecosystems and exceptional beauty empowered a growing nation.

On this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham look ahead to 2019 and chat about the new shows coming to the American Shoreline Podcast Network and exciting plans for CNT/ASPN's first full year. Then, they run through some of the hot news stories currently on CNT, and discuss trends in the news to pay attention to. Subject discussed: Dr. Lesley Ewing's new Shorewords! podcast covering coastal literature and writing; Robert Frump joining ASPN to cover shipping and waterways; deep diving into the National Climate Assessment; Jack E. Davis coming up on the Next Swell podcast with Rob Nixon; opportunities to partner with CNT & ASPN; hot topics in coastal federal policy news; sea level rise and climate change stories; fisheries in the news; trends in coastal access stories; and, more.

On this episode of the Beach Shack, Tyler Buckingham visits Brian Brennan, Executive Director of the Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment (BEACON) Organization, a joint powers authority comprised of the counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara; and, the cities of Carpentaria, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara, and Goleta. In addition to his role with BEACON, Brian has spent a career working in local government (city and county), state government (California Coastal Commission), and advocacy (Ventura Surfrider Foundation), which inform a conversation about the BEACON region's management challenges and a fascinating managed retreat project at the famous Surfers' Point.

On this, the inaugural episode of the Capitol Beach podcast, host Derek Brockbank welcomes Senator Tom Carper to the show. Senator Carper, has represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate since 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, Carper served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993 and was the 71st Governor of Delaware from 1993 to 2001. He currently is the Ranking Member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

On this special New Year's Eve episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, we look back at some of the memorable moments captured during 2018, ASPN's first (partial) year. Thank you to the thousands of listeners who have helped make Coastal News Today and the American Shoreline Podcast Network come to life. We look forward to 2019 and tons more great shows coming your way!
ASP | Endless Summer Show (2:33)
ASP | Robert Jones of the State of Fisheries (7:11)
Sea Change | Tim Dillingham (13:19)
Beach Shack | Carrie Johnson (20:32)
Local Control | Dennis Stahl (27:07)
Sea Change | Her Chesapeake (37:27)
ASP | Michael Poff (42:08)
ASP | ASBPA Round Table Excerpt (51:47)
Next Swell | Shaun Tompson (1:00:00)

On this special episode of the Sea Change podcast, Jenna Valente breaks down the top five climate-related issues of 2018. Subjects discussed include: Conservation Policy and the changes the Trump Administration is making to the policies instituted by his predecessors; the National Ocean Policy (NOP); changes to the Endangered Species Act; the role of the federal government in leading climate policy; protected lands (and waters); energy policy and its impacts on the climate in 2018; the surge of renewable energy in the US; 2018's observable climate change events; and more.

On this special Christmas Eve episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham take a trip up to the northern most reaches of the American Shoreline (not quite to the North Pole) with Craig Birrell, an adventurer, naturalist, outdoor educator, and all-around interesting guy to discuss his recent solo float trip down the Noatak River in the remote Brooks Range of Alaska. The river's entire course is north of the Arctic Circle. The Noatak basin is the largest undisturbed watershed in the United States. The Noatak National Preserve alone encompasses 6,500,000 acres of public, protected land.

On this episode of the Beach Shack podcast, Tyler Buckingham revisits one of his key early coastal influences, the Junior Lifeguard program of Ventura, California. Tyler is joined by the program's longtime leader, Carrie Johnson, a legend in the California State Parks Service for her work on the Junior Lifeguard program, earning her the Olmsted Award for Leadership and Vision in 2003, the department's highest honor. The Junior Lifeguard Program emphasizes Teamwork, Leadership, and Aquatic Safety while introducing young people to safe marine and aquatic recreation opportunities. The program is designed to provide quality water safety education while improving young people's physical conditioning, their understanding and respect for the environment, and their respect for themselves, their parents, and their peers.

In this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham record a lively roundtable discussion following the second day of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Coastal Resiliency Team Meeting in Austin, Texas. At the table are: Rhonda Price, GOMA Coastal Resiliency Team Chair; Niki Pace, Research Attorney, Louisiana Sea Grant Law and Policy Program at LSU; Tracie Sempier, GOMA Regional Program Manager & Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Coastal Storms Outreach Coordinator; and, Christine Shepard, the Nature Conservancy Director of Science for the Gulf of Mexico.

On this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham sit down with Rhonda Price, Coastal Resiliency Team Chair for the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. The Gulf of Mexico Alliance was established in 2004 by the Gulf State Governors in response to the President’s Ocean Action Plan. It was a State-led network of partners working together on projects related to the priority issues identified by the Governors in early discussions. Strongly supported by the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality, 13 Federal agencies led by EPA and NOAA, were identified to work with and support the young effort. In 2006, on the heels of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the five Gulf State Governors signed the Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts. Realizing that the mission could only be achieved by including as many Alliance Partners as possible, other organizations were recruited to join the effort, including academic organizations, non-profits, and business partners. The episode was recorded at the Coastal Resiliency Team's Fall Meeting, where these partners gather to share their work and ideas.

On this episode of the Sea Change podcast, Jenna Valente sits down with Brian Yurasits, Development Director for The TerraMar Project. Brian has conducted research about marine protected areas and worked with the Global FinPrint Project helping survey sharks and rays that live around the world's tropical reefs. He was a fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which many of us lovingly referred to as NOAA, during that time he was onboard commercial fishing vessels where he collected data on fisheries operations in the Northeast United States. Brian now leads TerraMar, an organization dedicated to educate and inspire a global community to promote awareness, transparency and responsibility for the Ocean.

On this episode of the Local Control podcast, Peter A. Ravella is joined by Chris Gibson, President of TI Coastal Services, a coastal engineering firm specializing in providing personalized service to the dredging, coastal, and beach communities. A continuation of ASPN's series on the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, Peter and Chris discuss the storm's impacts from a coastal engineering perspective. Subjects discussed: Chris's experience during the Florence compared to past storms; storm related erosion rates; designing beach restoration on Topsail; the costs associated with rebuilding NC's beaches; coordinating local, state, and federal investments in the beach; and. more.

In this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham take a minute to talk about the interesting new content coming to ASPN before the New Year and go over some of the most compelling news stories currently on Coastal News Today. Subjects discussed: ASPN news and reflection on NHC Director Ken Graham's interview; the Hurricane Florence Series of shows; the upcoming BOEM interview and the GOMA Coastal Resiliency Fall Meeting this week (CNT & ASPN will be there!); introducing the new host for the Waterways podcast, Robert R. Frump; the NOAA/NFWF $28.9M National Coastal Resiliency Fund; new shipping routes through the Russian Arctic and what it means; Shannon Tompkins, inducted into the Texas Freshwater Fishing HOF and the importance of outdoor journalism; Shannon's story on warmer winters triggering changes in Texas bays; and, more.

In this episode of the Local Control podcast, Peter A. Ravella is joined by Dennis Stahl, Mayor of the City of South Padre Island on the Texas coast. Dennis and his wife became permanent residents of South Padre Island shortly after Dennis stepped away from the day-to-day operations of his businesses. Needing something to occupy his time and mind, Dennis found local government, first serving on the City Council then running a successful campaign for mayor. Subjects discussed: the charms of South Padre Island; challenges of barrier island governance; the City's beach management program; working with a beach-tourism economy; SpaceX rocket launches; and, more.

On this special episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham welcome National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham to the show to recap the 2018 season and talk about the NHC's on-going work to better understand storms and better inform the American public. Subjects discussed: storm tracking and intensity methodologies and advancements; the Cone of Uncertainty; NHC's public education challenge; the national media; working with social scientists to improve product design; and more.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham welcome Howard Marlowe and Dan Ginolfi to the show from Washington DC to introduce ASPN's newest show, the Waterlog Podcast. Howard and Dan are experts in the realm of Federal coastal policy and help local governments from across the American shoreline understand and successfully navigate this complicated and confusing - yet critically important - universe. Subjects discussed: expectations for the lame duck period; the NFIP extension; what's on the WRDA radar; the 2019 Corps work plan and process; and, what we can expect to be covered in future episodes of the Waterlog Podcast.

In this episode of the Sea Change Podcast, Jenna Valente sits down with three of her long-time friends and favorite role models to discuss HerChesapeake, an organization that sits at the intersection of feminism and conservation with the goal of cultivating a network of women who elevate, amplify, and empower each other in a fair and impartial pursuit of their collective success and a healthier Chesapeake Bay. Lauren Taneyhill, President and Founder, Stephanie Smith, Vice President, and Catherine Krikstan, Historian discuss what it means to lead by example, cultivate safe space for innovation and vulnerability, and share their advocacy journeys in an episode that is sure you leave you simultaneously fired up, inspired, and refreshed.

On this episode of Local Control, Peter A. Ravella speaks Topsail Beach Commissioner Steve Smith. After a 37 year career with the Eveready Battery Company, Steve and his wife moved into a new home in Topsail Beach. Since then, Steve has served as Co-Chair of Topsail Beach’s 50 Year Celebration and Chairman of Topsail Beach’s Beach, Inlet & Sound Committee, and of course as a city commissioner. He continues to be involved with the Topsail Island community by serving as Secretary for the Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island Area and working with the Historical Society of Topsail Island. Subjects discussed: an overview of Topsail Beach; how the local government manages the shoreline; local funding of the shoreline management program; community engagement and education at Topsail; Hurricane Florence's impact and plans to continue building the beach; community leadership on the issue of sea level rise; and, the importance of local leadership in the aftermath of big storms.

On this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham don their boots for a stroll along the Texas coast with Eddie Fisher, a fourth generation coastal Texan who has spent his career working in the public and private sectors along the Lone Star state's beaches and bays. He spent 10 years as the Director of the Coastal Erosion Program for the General Land Office before transitioning to the private sector and is now the Vice President of Gulf Hydrographic and Coastal Consulting. Subjects discussed: impacts of dredging the Freeport Channel to 50'; changes and trends in Cameron Country's development and what might happen in the coming years; Eddie's top coastal project priorities; looking to Louisiana for guidance on Texas coastal management; and, the importance of bringing stakeholders and local voters into the equation.

On this Thanksgiving Special episode of the Beach Shack, Tyler Buckingham speaks with Orrin, Peter, and Jenna Valente about their family coastal "camp" on the rocky shoreline of Maine. Near Acadia National Park, the family's "Seldom Inn" has been a place of gathering and recreation for four generations. For this Thanksgiving Special, Tyler is joined by three generations: Orrin, born in 1933, two years before the family first started acquiring the property that would become the Seldom Inn; Peter, Orrin's son; and Jenna, Peter's daughter. The conversation is a reminder of how much we have to be grateful for on the American Shoreline, which is a venue for so much connection and meaningfulness in our lives.

Rob Nixon is joined by surfing legend Sean Tomson. Sean is the author of the best-selling book “Surfer’s Code“, and the writer and producer of the award-winning documentary film Bustin’ Down the Door. He is a Business Administration and Finance graduate from the University of Natal. He is a World Surfing Champion, an inductee in the Jewish and South African Sports Hall of Fame, the US Surfing Hall of Fame, and has been described as one of the greatest surfers of all time (Surfing Magazine 2004) and one of the most influential surfers of the century (Surfer Magazine 1999). He is a board member and ambassador for Surfrider Foundation, the world’s largest environmental group dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches and he received the SIMA Environmentalist of the Year Award in 2002. He currently lives with his wife and son in Santa Barbara, California and still finds time to chase the perfect wave.

Dan Martin launches ASPN's newest show, the Next Gen Waterfronts podcast with a terrific conversation with Rick Hitchcock, Senior Principal and President of the Hitchcock Design Group. Subjects discussed include: differences in economics and development of river-fronts, lakefronts, and oceanfronts; the value of wetlands; planning for waterfront projects with the community; organizing elements; historic shoreline use trends and the new emphasis on recreation; designing in and around flood areas; and, the new commerce of waterfronts across America.

In this episode, Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham speak with Steve Mercer and Joe Gaughan, residents of Brunswick County, North Carolina. Both work at Steve's company, Coastal Transplants, a dune construction, maintenance, and restoration firm. Hear their stories, and how Hurricane Florence continues to impact the lives of those in its path of destruction. Subjects discussed include: preparing the farm for the storm, historic levels of flooding days after the storm had made landfall; the community coming together and chickens; and, dealing with FEMA and its contractors.

Jenna Valente sits down with Jen Long, Founder of The Whale Guitar Project, an organization dedicated to protecting Earth's oceans and whales by raising awareness of man-made threats and inspiring audiences to take impactful action. The the core of their outreach is the Whale Guitar - a custom electric guitar hand carved to resemble a whale. Jenna and Jen discuss how the idea to create the Whale Guitar came about, how Jen was inspired to become an advocate, and how music can be used to inspire change.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham sit down for a special show in honor of America's veterans. Throughout America's history, our armed forces have intersected with the shoreline - to defend the homeland from attack, to leave the homeland for war "overseas", and to return again, god willing. On this show Peter and Tyler look at some of the numbers of equipment and people at left America though its ports during the years of World War II. Its incredible. Other subjects discussed include: ASPN's ASBPA Conference speaker, session, and SWAG awards; exciting new content coming to the Network; and, a status update on the fire in the coastal community of Malibu.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham wrap up the ASBPA National Conference with a special round table edition. Peter and Tyler are joined by: Rob Nixon, host of ASPN's Next Well podcast; Dolan Eversole, Waikiki Beach Management Coordinator through the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program; Liz Skree Ecosystems Communications Manager for the Environmental Defense Fund; Taylor Zimmerman, ASBPA award winner and student from the Stevens Institute of Technology; Corey Aitken, student and ASBPA New Professional Committee co-chair; Jun Cheng, Ph.D. Candidate at the University of South Florida; and Reuben Trevino, Director of Operations with the Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees.

Peter A. Ravella sits down with Scott Jones, Galveston Bay Foundation Director of Advocacy. Scott has been with GBF since September 2008. Previously, Scott worked for eight years at the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and on water quality issues for four years at TCEQ-Austin and the Galveston County Health District. As Environmental Policy and Outreach Specialist, Scott provides education and outreach on the importance of freshwater inflows to Galveston Bay, ensuring that diverse stakeholder groups and citizens at large have a voice in State water planning. Scott also facilitates GBF’s Wetland Permit Review Committee, a group of volunteers that examine Corps of Engineers permit applications to ensure that impacts to our wetlands are avoided, minimized and/or mitigated.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham are joined by Paul Komar, emeritus Professor of Oceanography at Oregon State University, where he has been on the faculty since 1970. He received a M.S. degree in Geology at the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Professor Komar's research interests have focused primarily on coastal processes, including investigations of wave-induced nearshore currents and the resulting transport of beach sediments. His recent research has centered on the climate controls on U.S. West Coast processes and the resulting erosion problems, including those associated with occurrences of major El Ninos and a progressive increase in North Pacific wave heights. As well as having undertaken research along the West Coast of the United States, Professor Komar's investigations have included the Nile Delta of Egypt and the coast of New Zealand. He is author or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and two books including Beach Processes and Sedimentation published by Prentice-Hall (1976 and 1998). Paul gave the keynote address at the ASBPA Awards Luncheon at this years National Conference, where we recorded this show.

Rob Nixon sits down with former Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas Jerry Patterson to discuss the Texas Coast. Subjects discussed include: Jerry career of public service and 12 years as Land Commissioner; the Open Beaches Act and violations in Surfside and Galveston; Hurricane Rita and the infamous “condemnation letter” to property owners who ended up with homes on the wrong side of LOV; challenges to the rolling easement of the OBA in Brennan and Severance Cases; the Texas Supreme Court, Wayne Christian, Hurricane Ike; and, Jerry's thoughts on the future of Texas's open beaches.

Hours before the start of the ASBPA National Conference, Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham sit down with Derek Brockbank for an exclusive preview of the coming day's events. Subjects discussed: the history of ASBPA and the National Conference; the Certified Coastal Professionals short courses; and, the conference's forecasted highlights!

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham are joined by Michael Poff, President of Coastal Engineering Consultants and host of the Podcast for Building Beaches Better on ASPN. Subject discussed include: Michael's plans for his new show on ASPN (P4B^3); trends in coastal engineering and how the profession can be better; an update on the Charlotte County, FL beach project; and Michael's thoughts on the future of coastal engineering.

Peter A. Ravella launches Local Control with Pat Forbes, the ​Executive Director of the Office of Community Development and LA SAFE, the state's community resiliency program with a budget of $100 million from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Subject discussed include: Pat's coastal background; the state of the LA coast and the extent to which land loss is an emergent issue; the importance of coastal and community resiliency; and, what other states can learn from Louisiana.

In the first episode of the Beach Shack, Tyler Buckingham chats with Don Scanlin, a real estate expert with more than 25 years experience in acquisition, development, and sale of commercial properties in his role as an independent real estate investor. His current investments include a diverse portfolio of commercial and recreational properties located in the Western U.S. Don ownes a family beach house on Solimar Beach, California. Subjects discussed: Don's family history on Solimar Beach; pre-war condition of the beach and the original small beach shacks; WWII and the Japanese submarine attack; pre-western settlement of the area and the coastal existence of the Chumash people; geology of the Ventura and Santa Barbara County shoreline; and, Don's thoughts on short term renting.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham are excited to return to the ASPN airwaves, feeling refreshed and invigorated from respective vacations. Subjects discussed: news of the weird on the American Shoreline; Pacific Grove to decide on future of short-term rentals with Measure M; St Augustine Florida's Tax collector working to keep up with vacation rental boom; Santa Barbara County Supervisors to consider Coastal Commission changes to county cannabis ordinance; the power of Hurricane Willa and the recent storm we seem to forget so quickly; and, a look ahead at the other great shows coming to ASPN soon.

Jenna Valente welcomes Tim Dillingham for the Sea Change podcast inaugural show. Tim is the Executive Director of the American Littoral Society, making him both an excellent first guest for the Sea Change, and Jenna's boss. Subject discussed: Tim’s background, inspirations, and motivations; American Littoral Society’s background and insights gained from running the organization; and, conservation gains and challenges seen over the years, advice for others looking to pursue a similar role, and what his legacy might be.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham are joined by Dan Martin, host of the new Next Gen Waterfronts coastal economics podcast on ASPN. Dan works directly with clients assisting them and their planning teams to determine the best mix of land uses at a site and to determine and project the market demand and financial outcomes for those specific land uses at the site over time. Subject discussed: what will the next generation of beach users look for at the shoreline; the Millennials are the largest block of US population; climate change and the future of shoreline development; Dan's background and growing up in Boston; development trends on the American shoreline; and rethinking the "highest and best use" idea for the next generation.

For the first episode of The Next Swell Podcast, Rob Nixon welcomes two outstanding guests to talk about the blockbuster Martin's Beach Supreme Court decision. Angela Howe is the Legal Director of the Surfrider Foundation. Sarah Damron manages over 30 Surfrider chapters across the American Shoreline. This episode is a deep dive into the case and what the future may hold for Martin's Beach.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham are joined by Robert E. Jones, Director of the Gulf of Mexico region for the Environmental Defense Fund's Oceans Program, and host of the Catch Curve podcast of ASPN. Subjects discussed include: Robert's background and connection to the coast; the meaning of "catch curve"; red tide in FL; emerging trends in fisheries management; and, the great migration happening beneath the water.

Jenna Valente introduces the brand new Sea Change Podcast on ASPN, a show dedicated to telling the story of coastal advocacy and the people to dedicate their lives to protecting our oceans and shorelines.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham are joined by Derek Brockbank to introduce The Capitol Beach, Derek's podcast focused on federal shoreline policy. Subjects discussed include: the upcoming ASBPA national conference; Derek's vision for The Capitol Beach; federal coastal policy trends; the state of the relationship between coastal states and the feds; and, can we afford to live on the coast and maintain our shorelines.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham are joined by Jenna Valente of the Littoral Society and host of the Sea Change Podcast on ASPN. Subject discussed: Jenna's plan for her show; growing up in a Coast Guard family and splitting childhood memories between Maine and Hawaii; what issues are important in the advocacy community; repeal and replace of the Federal Ocean Policy; offshore energy, including O&G and wind; and, California Surfing Day enshrined into law.

With Hurricane Florence in the news, Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham share their thoughts on the important role storms play on the American Shoreline. Subjects discussed include: post-storm increases in coastal real estate values; hurricane impacts on coastal community socio-economics; the challenges of local governance before and after disasters strike; local control of shoreline management; and, the federal government's role in insurance, pre-disaster mitigation/investment, and FEMA aid.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham announce some of the new shows and hosts coming to ASPN, discuss how CNT and ASPN can add value to the coverage of the 2018 hurricane season, and talk about recent research papers documenting how coastal real estate markets are adjusting to a changing climate and rising seas.

Introducing The Beach Shack, the newest ASPN show covering the fascinating world of coastal real estate. Where are hottest and coldest coastal markets, and what’s driving them? How does coastal flood insurance work? How are AirBnB, HomeAway, and the other short-term rental companies changing coastal communities across America? And, what are beach communities doing about it? We are excited to explore these questions and more with industry's thought leaders.

Peter A. Ravella and Tyler Buckingham launch the American Shoreline Podcast with an introduction to Coastal News Today and ASPN and think about the most important coastal news stories from summer. Subject discussed: the proliferation of plastic straw bans across coastal America; the growing awareness of sea level rise and climate change; the awesome power of the Hawaiian volcano eruption; ongoing tensions between the public and private interests on the beach; and, the red tide and Blue Green algae disaster in Florida.

Welcome aboard! The American Shoreline Podcast Network is where thought-leaders from across the coastal space - from shipping and engineering to policy and tourism - discuss the latest developments that affect you, your business, or your property.